Courtesy of NHRA MarketingSunoco Fall Classic Draws More than 500 Competitors From Across Nation

CLERMONT, INd. --
The NHRA Sunoco Fall Classic, the final National Hot Rod
Association North Central Division Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event
of 2001, began late Friday morning after heavy rains delayed the start of
action in the three-day competition at Indianapolis Raceway Park. More than
650 competitors from across the nation are expected for the weekend event,
with more than $158,000 in prize money at stake in the final divisional
meet of the year.

Fridays action featured more than 500 cars in opening qualifications and
time trials. In the highlight of Fridays qualifications, Keith Stark of
Danville, Ill., recorded a dynamic 5.361 elapsed time, posting a 270.18
miles per hour top speed, in the Federal-Mogul Dragster category to grab
the top spot in the eight-car field of category qualifiers after the first
day of the event.

In the Federal-Mogul Funny Car division, Marc White of Glendale Heights,
Ill., posted a 5.755 elapsed time, running the quarter-mile with a top
speed of 249.51 mph to grab the top qualifying position in the category
headed into Saturday.

Other top qualifiers on Friday included Sam Walker of Kokomo, Ind., in the
Jegs Super Quick Series; Santo Volpe of Drums, Pa., in Comp Eliminator;
Chuck Gallagher of Holly, Mich., in Super Stock; and Jerry Stealy of East
Moline, Ill., in Stock.

Time trials for Super Gas and Super Street also took place Friday, with
qualifications in both of those divisions set to begin on Saturday.
Overall, participants are competing for points and prize money in nine
categories during the event.

Qualifications continue all day Saturday at IRP with gates opening at 7
a.m. Final qualifications and time trials are scheduled to begin at 8 a.m.
Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car qualifying sessions are
scheduled at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. On Sunday, the event will conclude with
gates opening at 7 a.m. and final eliminations starting at 8 a.m.
Eliminations in the Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car
categories will begin at 1 p.m.

Tickets are $15 at the gate both Saturday and Sunday. Children 12 and under
are admitted free with a paid adult. For more information, contact IRP at
317-291-4090.

The following are Fridays qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul
Drag Racing Series event at Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indianapolis: